Biography of Michael RollerIowa County, IA Biographies

Michael Roller, for many years a successful farmer on section 24, English township, is still actively engaged
in agricultural pursuits there. He was born in Hancock county, Ohio, on the r4th of February, 1850, a son of George
W. and Susanna (Harrison) Roller, the former a native of Columbiana county, Ohio, and the latter of Pickaway county,
that state. The birth of the father occurred on the 22d of February, 1824, and that of the mother on the 7th of
November, 1825. They were married in Hancock county, Ohio, on the i6th of October, 1845, and the family home was
maintained in that state until 1855. In that year the family came to Iowa county, Iowa, arriving here on the 23d
of May. Two years previously Mr. Roller had come to this county in company with Jerry Boltz, walking from Chicago,
as there were then no railroads west of that city. After locating in Iowa county he became agent for Thomas Hibben,
of Cincinnati, Ohio, who owned sixteen hundred acres of land here which he had taken tip with old land warrants
that he had purchased. Mr. Roller sold this land to settlers who arrived in the county and the interests intrusted
to his care were well managed. He entered for himself two hundred and forty acres of government land on section
13, English township, and there he and his family resided for many years. About 1894 he removed to North English
and lived in retirement there until his demise, which occurred on the 16th day of August, 1905. He had survived
his wife for almost three decades, as her demise occurred on the 16th of January, 1876.

Michael Roller was but a child on the removal of the family to this county and he grew to manhood upon the home
farm in English township. During three or four months each winter he attended the district schools and was well
grounded in the fundamental branches of learning. Upon reaching his majority he began farming on his own account,
renting a portion of the homestead for ten or twelve years. At the end of that time he assumed entire charge of
the operation of the home farm and gave his time and energies to its cultivation until February, 1901. He then
removed to his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 24, English township, which is one of the
well improved quarter sections of his locality. He had purchased one hundred and twenty acres of his place a number
of years prior to leaving the homestead and has since added the remaining forty acres. The good buildings and the
excellent condition of the place testify to his good management, energy and pride in his home.

On the 26th of December, 1872, Mr. Roller married Miss Eliza E. O'Brien, a native of Johnson county, Iowa, and
a daughter of John W. O'Brien, who removed from Indiana to Johnson county, Iowa, in 1852 and in 1866 came with
his family to Iowa county, locating in English township. A part of his homestead is now incorporated in the home
farm of our subject To Mr. and Mrs. Roller were born fourteen children, of whom twelve survive, namely: Albert
L., Effie B., Nellie S., Mary E., Richard E. and Jessie E., twins, Inez I., Martha A., Michael Dean, Ruby A., Iowa
C. and Wilson N.

Mr. Roller is identified with the democratic party and has served as township assessor, although for the greater
part of the rime he has preferred to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, leaving to others the
responsibilities of office holding. Both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church and the. spread
of Christianity is an aim with which they are thoroughly in sympathy. Mr. Roller is well known in English township
and is respected as a successful farmer, a good citizen and a man of honor and integrity.

From:
History of Iowa County, Iowa
And its People
By: James C. Dinwiddie
Vol II
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
Chiago 1915